Observation date: June 17, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Observed two flying and alighting on the road (the first at approx. 11,000 ft. elevation and on a rock in the road at 11:51 a.m.), and the second (the first two photos) on the road itself at approx. 10,500 ft. elev. at 12:24 p.m. Since the hind wing of this individual seems less than fully inflated, could this be a newly eclosed adult? The first individual (seen at 11,000 ft. elev.) displayed a leaning behavior as it perched on a rock, which I've since read is a behavior designed to reduce its shadow in order to be less visible to potential predators (see third photo).
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: June 18, 2024
Coordinator notes: congratulations, Rene! yes, I agree it is Chryxus. to me it looks like the hindwing did not expand fully, and at this point will not. The arctics do their best to warm up by arranging wings perpendicular to the sun, and then to arrange parallel when warm enough or too warm. when on rocks their wings can make them look like lichens. this is a nice record because chryxus is not often reported from Santa Fe County.
